About New Zealand
Whether your company is sending employees to New Zealand or expanding your worldwide footprint—Fragomen is here to help. Our experienced immigration professionals partner with businesses of all sizes to develop immigration strategies that can help you achieve your goals.
- New Zealand's immigration system provides many options for employers of foreign nationals. Requirements, processing times, employment eligibility and benefits for accompanying family members vary by visa classification. New Zealand operates on a single visa system, where a visa provides authorization to enter and stay in New Zealand.
- Business visitors can apply for a Business Visitor Visa or a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) before travel. A Business Visitor Visa may be valid for 90 days within any calendar year, while an NZeTA may be valid for up to two years (90-day maximum stay per calendar year).
- Visitor visa holders and New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) holders who applied for a visa on or after January 27, 2025, are allowed to work remotely for an employer outside New Zealand without violating the rules of their visitor visa status. It also allows some partners and guardians on long-term visitor visas to work remotely for an employer outside New Zealand. While working remotely, visa holders cannot work for a New Zealand employer, provide goods or services to people or businesses in New Zealand, or do work that requires them to be physically present at a workplace in New Zealand.
- The primary work visa categories permit a foreign national to work legally in New Zealand: (1) Accredited Employer Work Visa (for local hires by a New Zealand-based employer) can generally be issued for up to five years, provided the applicant is paid at least the median wage. For those who are paid less than the median wage or are employed in an ANZSCO Level 4 or 5 occupation, their total authorized stay may be issued for less than five years. There is a stand-down period of at least 12 months after spending five years on an AEWV unless another visa application is lodged and approved; and (2) Specific Purpose or Event Work Visa (for highly skilled workers of a specific project) is issued based on the length of the assignment or secondment. It may be granted for as little as one day, with a total stay of up to 72 months, including the duration of the initial visa granted. The applicant may be on the local entity’s payroll.
NOTE: Talent (Accredited Employers) Work Visa or Long-Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa holders maintain a pathway to residence under the Residence to Work category even though the Work to Residence (Talent) Visa was replaced by Accredited Employer work visa from July 4, 2022.
Fragomen can also consult on citizenship matters and, as permitted within the confines of local law, may be able to offer citizenship assistance.
Fragomen in New Zealand is Fragomen Global Pty Ltd, operating exclusively as an immigration consultancy and not a law firm in New Zealand.
Firmwide services
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Business Visa Services and Technology
Guidance, support and technology to help you get your business travelers on the ground quickly and compliantly.
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Consular Services
Personalized support to help ease the burden of complex immigration consular processing.
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Corporate Immigration Program Development
World-class corporate immigration services to help you optimize your immigration operations.
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Crisis Management Services
The help you need, when you need it most.
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Digital Nomad Services
Advice and planning for your growing Digital Nomad population.
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Document Services
Proactive planning and on-the-ground support to streamline the immigration document process.
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Employment Verification Services
Modern, streamlined employment verification solutions to increase your compliance and minimize your exposure to risk.
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Government Advisory Services
Strategic and tailored consultation to help you achieve your business goals.
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Immigration Analytics, Benchmarking and Knowledge
Robust resources to help you understand immigration in a changing world.
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Immigration Compliance Services
Experienced guidance to help manage your most complicated immigration activities and maximize your compliance.
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Immigration Enforcement Defense Services
Enforcement defense and internal investigations assistance to help defend your business against immigration noncompliance.
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Immigration Litigation Services
Experienced, skilled immigration litigation to help you resolve complex situations.
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Immigration Technology Solutions
Pragmatic, leading-edge technology solutions that support our clients’ immigration experiences.
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Immigration Training
Unmatched training means better immigration experiences for your employees.
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Immigration Work Permit Services
Comprehensive, end-to-end immigration services and technology to help streamline business immigration.
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Private Client Services
Sound, holistic alternative residency and citizenship solutions to help you seize your opportunities.
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Remobilization Services
Strategic support to help remobilize quickly and prepare for the future of work.
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Remote Work Strategic Services for Employers
As the world moves forward from the pandemic, some companies are calling employees back to the office full-time, while others are implementing or formalizing hybrid work schedules.
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Value-Added Services
A wealth of complimentary benefits to enrich your immigration experience.
